Oratorio di San Michele, Gothic oratory near Carrara Castle, Padua, Italy.
The Oratorio di San Michele is a Gothic chapel in Padua filled with frescoes depicting the Life of the Virgin Mary. The painted walls also show scenes of medieval daily life in the city, offering a rare glimpse into how people lived centuries ago.
This chapel was built in 1397 following a fire that destroyed an earlier church during conflicts between the Carraresi and Visconti families. The Bovi family funded its reconstruction, making possible the creation of this remarkable building.
The painted walls feature portraits of Petrarch and members of the Carraresi family woven into religious scenes. This creates a unique blend of local history and spiritual storytelling that feels very personal to the city.
The chapel has limited opening hours and sits near Carrara Castle, making it possible to visit both in one trip. It helps to check ahead since visiting times change depending on the season and day of the week.
A stone plaque inside records construction details and attributes the frescoes to the artist Jacopo da Verona. This rare piece of written evidence allows experts to confirm with certainty who painted these walls and when.
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